How to Use Semicolons Correctly

A semicolon is a breed of its own.  It’s stronger than a comma, but weaker than a period.  What do I mean by that?  Let’s use this as an example: if a comma and a period got married and they had kids, a semicolon would result.  The semicolon is often confused with comma usage.  That is obviously incorrect and you’ll see examples below.

The following adverbs should be preceded by a semicolon when used transitionally between clauses:  then, however, thus, hence, indeed, accordingly, besides, and therefore.   

Correct usage:  My wife bought me an X-Box 360 the other day; however, I wanted a rotisserie machine.   

Incorrect usage:  I destroyed my opponent in the cage, however, he was faster than me. 

Correct usage:  Lauren drew gruesome pictures of stick figures being killed; therefore she was admitted into an insane asylum.

Incorrect usage:  Kalyn hasn’t taken the editor’s oath yet, therefore she is not considered an editor.

A semicolon should also be used in a series that have internal punctuation.  This is common in sports stats, or when people list things that have internal punctuation.  Below:

The membership of the international commission was as follows: France, 4; Germany, 5; Great Britain, 1; Italy, 3; United States, 7. 

The defendant, in an attempt to mitigate his sentence, pleaded that he had recently, and quite unexpectedly, lost his job; that his landlady-whom, incidentally, he had once saved from attack-had threatened him with eviction; and that he had not eaten for several days. 

Use semicolon before “that is” or “namely”

We need a man that’s awesome, bold, handsome, and mentally stable to handle the job; that is, Wayne, if you’re up to it. 

One of the most common usages of semicolons is between closely related independent clauses not conjoined with a conjunction:

I went to the swimming pool; I was told it was closed for scheduled maintenance.

I was invited to the frat party; I went to the wrong house.